Tape-measure.



GHARLES FRANCIS BALGH, on EARL, ARKANSAS.

UNITED lSTATES TAPE-MEASURE.

Specification of Letters'latent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

Application led May 14, 1910. Serial No. 561,289.

To allwhomat may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FnANcis BALCH, citizen of the United States, residing at-Earl, in the county of Crittenden and State of Arkansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tape-Measures, of

which the following is a specification.

l. ject and others .coordinate therewith, the preferred embodiment of my invention resides in that construction and arrangement hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompany-inv' drawings, and embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion lof the tape. Fig. 2 is a. similar IviewI showing a portion of the tape reversed. Fig. 3 is atop plan View of the, casing with the cover removed. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation of the casing, and F ig. .3 is a top plan view of the casing with the tape andspring cylinder removed.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring more particularly to the drawingsfor a detail description of my invention. the numeral 1 designates the tape, which is preferably constructed of steel, and is provided on its outer terminal with the usualring Q. Conimencing at a point rcinoved from the ring 2 and on each side thereof, the tape is divided by the transverse lines 3 into inch spaces 4 containing columns of numbers. The first column ot' numbers on the obverse and reverse sides of the tape indicates the length of the logs for which the device is adapted, and the numbers in the f remaining spaces represent the corresponding cubical area of the logs. For example.

and referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, if it be desired to ascertain the area of a sixteen foot log. the Vtape is stretch-cd across the diaiiietei of the log at the small end thereof. with the line adjacent the ring at one. edge and say, the eighth column of figures at the opposite edge. The number at the top of the eighth column, which is 1C 7, indicates the number of feet in the log. Assuming the log to be 14 feet lone and having the same diameter, the number S8 v which corresponds to the position of the number 14, would determine the area of the 10U. The same calculations will be followed out on the reverse side of the ta pe, which is exhibited in Fig. 2.-

'Iche tape is prefeably ivound upon a spring cylinder 5, in conjunction with which I employ a brake. This brake comprisesa skeleton-like base substantially circular in contour` with a pair of oppositely disposed arms 6 and a central projection 7, said arms being designed to yieldahly and snugly fit in the annular concavity 8 of the bottom fl of the case10, while the projection 7 is disposed at a slight inclination to .resiliently pair of convergent struck-up portions 11, which constitute an axis for said cylinder. The top 12 of the case is equipped 'with one or more tongues, as 13, which detachably engage thc side of the case, and furthermore -lias a medialI openingl 14 designed to accommodate a button 1?,loosely mount-ed on the upper terminals of the portions 11.

As will be found upon inspectionof Fig. 4, a part of the upper edge of the cylinder 5 by reason of the disposition of the projection 7 normally engages the underneath sui'- face of the top of the case. It will appear manifest that by depressing the button 15 the rojection 7 will assume a substantially parclllel relation with the bottom 9. and the cylinder will recede coinincnsurately and b free to be energized by the spring.

lVitli in v device-logs can be scaled in the woods where they are cut without necessitating any moving or adjusting of the same.

iii scaling logsy iii piles. besides-being easy to carry and manipulate. I

lt should be understood that in'itsbi'oai'ler aspects thc invention comprehciids the employment not only7 of the various means deforining the recited functions.

lVliile the arrangement shown is thought at the present time to be preferable. it is desired to reserve the right to ett'ect such modiscat the cyliii( er 5 and is provided with a,

and it will also hoof considerable advantagel` scribed, but of equivalent means for per-' cations and Variations thereof as may come of the appended a. case therefor, of a Spring cylinder, al plate constituting a resilient support forfsaid cylinder whereby the'latter. is fot-ced into frictional engagement with the case, oppositely 1.0 disposed arms carried by said plate adapted 'to be detachably secured at Said case; and

means for releasing said cylinder fro'm its frlctxonal engagement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set-'- my hand 1n presence of two subscribing Wit- 15 CHAS. FRANCIS BALCH.

DGSSGS.

Witnesses ERNEST BALCH, 

